Steering gear



'May y2 4, 1927. 1,630,046

W. C. ANTHONY ET AL STEERING GEAR Filed June 27. .1925

mi; ik gni Patented May 24, p 1927.

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM o. ANTHONY AND WILLIAM B. MAoKINTosII, OF sTREATOR, ILLINOIS, As-

SIGNoRs To ANTHONY COMPANY, or STREATOR, ILLINOIS, A 'CORPORATION or ILLINOIS. l

STEERING GEAR.

This invention relates to a steering gear for automotive vehicles and especially to a reduction steering gear. It has for one object to provide a removable means whereby the reduction arrangement can be put in place in the steering gear of a tractor which hasy already been built. Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

Our invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a cross sectionthrough the steering gear with parts broken away and parts in section.; v l.

Figure 2 is a section taken on hne 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an axial cross section taken on line 3-3-Of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a transverse cross section on line 4-4 of Figure 3,;

F igure is a transverse section taken on liney 5-5 of Figure 3.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout.

A is a portion of the frame of an engine ortractor, carrying in one side the bearing A1 in which a steeringshaft A2 is positioned. This shaft has positionedupon it a quadrant A?. At its outer end the shaft A2 carries the steering gear connection by means of which the wheels are steered. This is not shown as it forms no part ofthe vpresent invention. Centrally the member A carries arbearing portion A* within which is mounted la bushing A5.

The steering shaft B is journaled in the i bushing and/carries at its lower end a bevelled pinion B1 which engages the quadrant A3, the pinion being keyed upon the shaft by means'of a key B2. B3 -is a washer about the shaft B below the pinion B1 held in place by the pin B4.. f t U C is a steering column housing within which a tubular member *C1 is positioned. This member is provided with a reduced portion C2 and it is that portion which extends into the reduced upper neck C3 of the housing C. The member C1 is provided with laterally extending lugs C4 C4. At its upper end it is enlarged and provided with a bowllike portion C5 within which are cut gear teeth C6.

The shaft B carries at its upper end a latof two members G Gr which are held together by bolts G1. Each of the membersG ifs-provided adjacent its lower end with an inward extension G2 having a generally rounded face adapted to engage the upper restricted portion C2 of the housing C. Adjacent its upper end of each of the members G is an extension G3 which has an angular inner face corresponding in shape to the lugs G4 and engaging them. The clamp arrangement thus engages the angular face of the housing CV and engages between its upper inner extensions, the lugs C* and at its upper end engages' the rounded part of the member C1, thus preventing relative rotation of the parts.

Although we have shown an operative device, still it will be obvious Athat many Achanges might Vbe made in size, shape, and

arrangement of parts withoutdeparting ma- Y fixed the i terially from the spirit of our invention; and

we wish, therefore, that our showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic.

The use and operation of our invention .are as follows this purpose the steering shaft normally found in the steering column of the tractor is removed. A bushing, such as the bushing A5 is put in the lower bearing. rlhe member C1 with its bowl-shaped upper enlargement is put in place at the top of the housing C and a shaft somewhat smaller than the shaft normally supplied with the tractor is put in place in the bearinfr. This is the shaft B. A planetary geararrangement is located in the bowl-shaped enlargement lat the top of the steering column. The parts are then tightened in position and Vheld again-st relative movement and rotation by means of the'special clamp shown and described. i

Thus there is provided on the tractor'in question, a reducing steering gear which may be readily and easily installed with a minimum of rebuilding and readjustment.

lVe claim:

l. In combination with a steering column having a casing other than circular in cross section a steering gear adapter a reduction means including a shalt, and an adapter ior such shaft including a generally tubular portion, a cupshaped enlargement having gear .teeth .on its interior, planetary gearing mounted partially on said shattand located within said vcup-shaped enlargement and a clamp provided with .portions corresponding in shape to the steeringcolumn and such tubular adapter, and adapted :to engage the two to prevent relative movement.

2. In combination with a steering column having a easing other than .circular in cross section a steering' gear radapter a reduction means including a shaft, and an adapter or such shaft including a generally tubular portion, a cup-.shaped enlargement having gear teeth on its interior, planetary geaa'- ing mounted partially7 on said shaft-t and vlocated within said cup-shaped .enlargement and a. two par-t clamp provided with portions corresponding in shape to the .steering column and such tubular adapter, and adapted to engage the two to prevent their relative movement.

3. Incombination with a steering .column Vhaving a casing Yother' fthan .circular in .cross section a steering gear adapter a reduction means including ya. shaft, and an adapter for such'shalt 'including a .generally tubular port-ion -having laterally extending lugs, a cup-shaped .enlargement lhaving gear teeth on its interior, planetary gearing. mounted partially on said shaft and located -within said cup-shaped enlargement and a clamp provided with ,portions corresponding in shape to the steering-.column yand such tubular adapter, and adapted to engage the two yto prevent their relative movement.

4. In combination with a steering column having a. casing other than ,circular in cross section -a lsteering gear Vadapter a reduction means including a shaft, and an adapter for such shaft .including a generally .tubular :portion having laterally extending lugs, a -cup-shaped enlargement having gear teeth on iits interior, planetary gearing mounted partially on said shaft and located within said cuprshaped .enlargement and a two part clamp provided with portions corresponding in shape to the steering column, and such `tubular adapter, and adapted to engage the two to 4prevent their relative movement.

5. ln combination with a steering column having a casing other than circular in cross section a steering gea-'r adapter a. reduction means including a shaft, adapted to be substituted for an already existing sha'lt, bei-ng ot' soinewhat reduced diameter with relation thereto, land an adapter for such shaft including a generally tubular portion, a cuplshaped enlargement having gear teeth on its interior, planetary gearing mounted partially on said shaft and located within said Acup-shaped enlargement and a clamp provided with portions corresponding in shape to lthe already existing steering column and such tubular adapter, and adapted to engage the two to prevent their relative movement.

6. In combination with a steering column having a casing other than circular in cross section a steering gear adapter a reduction means including a` shaft, adapted to he substituted for an already existing shaft, being of somewhat reduced diameter with relation ithereto, and an adapter for such shalt including a generally tubular portion having laterally extendmg lugs, .a cup-shaped enlargement ihaving gear teeth on its interior,

planetary gearing .mounted partially on said shaft and located within said cup-shaped .enlargement and a two palrtclamp provided with portions corresponding,in .shape to the already existing steering column yand such tubular adapter, Aand adapted to engage the two .to prevent their' relative movement.

Signed at ISti-eater, county et fLa Salle,

and State of Illinois, this 23 day .of June, i

VILLIAM lC. ANTHONY. VILLIAM B. MAGKINTOSH. 

